"When they cut off my nose and ears, I passed out," Aisha said, describing the attack to CNN in March. "It felt like there was cold water in my nose. I opened my eyes, and I couldn't even see because of all the blood."

Aisha said her mutilation was an act of Taliban justice for the crime of shaming her husband's family.

At 16, she was handed over to her husband's father and 10 brothers, whom she claims were all members of the Taliban in Oruzgan.

"I spent two years with them and became a prisoner," she said.

She eventually ran away but was caught by police in Kandahar. And although running away is not a crime, in places throughout Afghanistan, it is treated as such if one is a woman.

Eventually her father-in-law found her and took her back to her abusive home.

She was taken to a Taliban court for dishonoring her husband's family.

The court ruled that her nose and ears must be cut off, an act carried out by the six men in the mountains of Oruzgan, where they left her to die.

But she survived.

She was brought to the United States where she received reconstructive surgery and a new life.

soundoff(69 Responses)

TheTazman

I think all muslims should be shoot with a bullet that has been drinched in pigs blood. For you people to treat your woman like this it is no wonder they have no respect for you. I dont like none of the muslims people. They should all die. The world would be a much better place.

When the basis of the Moslum religion believes that women are the cause of the social and moral decay of man, not only exposes nakedly that they believe in a false God, but also shows how violent and joyless a belief they are, controlling by cruelty, threat and lies. Our God created man, and one woman from his rib, to be his companion and helper. Yes, we humans have fallen far short of the glory of God, but still God love us so much that He would send his one and only son, Jesus Christ, to be the perfect blood sacrifice for ALL of the human race's sins, to rise and sit again at the right side of God, offering salvation and hope in this life and eternal life in heaven, if only we believe through faith, NOT WORKS, so that we may never take credit for the grace God still generously offers us. And Muslims offer what??? Abuse, Cruelty, Lies, Fear, Terror. Mohammed was a sadly misguided religious leader showing his rejection by other religions leaders of the time - some 600 years AFTER Jesus Christ walked earth. Arabs are old, but Moszlums are not! Whew! This Honor Killing stuff really irks me to no end!!!

DINDY SOLUTION IS SIMPLE. AMERICA MUST CHANGE AND RETURN TO THEIR CORE NATIONAL VALUES AS COMMITTED TO THE WORLD IN DECELERATION OF INDEPENDENCE. END DEPENDENCE ON MIC, STOP DREAMING TO RULE THE WORLD WITH THE POWER OF A GUN AND PROVE WORTH RULING THE WORLD WITH REASON AND LOGIC. BRAVE, JUST AND POPULAR DECISIONS IN MAJOR WORLD DISPUTES TO REMOVE THE CAUSES OF THE WARS IN WORLD POLITICS. AT LAST THE UN-CONDITIONAL APOLOGY FROM AFGHANS FOR THEIR THREE DECADES LONG SUFFERINGS IN US's WARS IN THIS REGION AND A STRONG WILL TO HELP GENEROUSLY IN REBUILDING WHAT SO FAR HAS BEEN DESTROYED. I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THIS COST WILL BE LOWER THEN WHAT WE ALL ARE PAYING IN THESE INHUMAN AND SENSELESS WARS. TODAY OR IN COMING DAYS.

No doubt no one on the surface of earth, from any race or religion can accept such brutal actions by any one. It is inhuman, barbaric and condemnable from any angle. But the question is why this barbarism on Afghan soil? I think one can rightly link it to the President Carter and Reagon era that turned this region into a war front against USSR, by supporting what President Bush calling today it terrorism. Osama, once a hero for CIA in war against USSR on Afghan soil, is now the most wanted terrorist, but the fact is that this region is at war for the last three decades and here deaths and destructions are routine issues. Millions have lost their lives and millions are on their way to miserable end. Such long list of comments on the imputation of a nose and an ear of an innocent Afghan girl indicate how bad action this was and deserved condemnation. It was possible due to the blessings of CNN which had the courage to share this inhuman practice with the whole world and exposed the real faces behind such brutalities in this region but I am sorry to say that same CNN did not dare to show who these Taliban-Alqaida were or are today? And what were or are the contribution of USA in creation of this barbarism in this region? Today in Afghanistan and Pakistan general public see no difference between Osama and Obama and for them both are two faces of same coin because the ultimate results of their so called war is our deaths and destruction in both states either in the name of Jehad or the war on terror. Abdullah Azzam(Founder of Alqaida) at a Conference of the Muslim Arab Youth Association (MAYA) IN Oklahoma city USA in Dec 1988 said “O brothers, after our experience of Afghanistan, nothing in the world is impossible for us any more! Small power or big power, what is decisive is the willpower that springs from the religious belief. He made it clear that Afghanistan would be used as a training ground where Muslims from round the world could receive preparation for taking the jehad to their respective regions; “ The Palestinian youth came here to Afghanistan, and also non Palestinian, and they were trained ,and their soul became prepared, and the paranoia of fear disappeared, and they became experts. Now, every one of then returns…ready to die.” SO it is now for all of us to understand the real faces behind this barbarism. No doubt victory of Obama, based on the slogan for a CHANGE was a ray of hope for us but we see that he is facing a lot of problems in bringing that CHANGE therefore you all will continue to see such miserable incidents as the GREAT GAME is not yet finished in this region.

Good posting,BANGASH. By the way,I'm the real Bledsoe and not Phunnie boy whom I expect to blog shortly under my name. I complained to CNN to absolutely no avail. This just goes on and on. So when you see it,just ignore it!

I know how you feel Bledsoe. The creep that you're talking about called me a Communist in a previous post,posting under your name. If it'll make you feel any better,I too reported his excessive abuses to CNN but it evidently did no good.

DAN it is very easy provided USA sincerely wished to end it. Believe me your these huge dollars and weapons are main fuel for this fire. Great Game has failed in the past and will fail in future. So why pour your Tex payers money in this black hole, by using in killing and bombing and in return earn hate. Why not use it in building and wining the hearts and minds of the people in this region. Diamond cuts diamond, Afghans are capable of dealing with this issue once you all civilized players are out of this region.

This is a very serious situation and I feel some previous bloggers took this piece of news too lightly. In Afghanistan culture this happens to women all too often. The question is should we, the US, try to stop it? Because this is within their culture is it okay for the US to intervene? I feel that if innocent people are getting hurt someone needs to step in and help those people. Afghanistan culture, traditionally, is male dominant. Women get little to no respect in their culture, which means they are taken advantage of a lot. However, as Westernization takes its course urban areas are becoming more like the US where women are more respected and able to live in peace with men. Rural areas seem to be more traditional and stick to hard-core cultural aspects. I feel if no one else will help it is up to us to help them, women, receive a better quality of live. No one should have to live their life in fear of bringing shame to their family and being abused for it.

After spending a semester discussing Southern Asia I have to agree with you. I also feel that this a serious problem that should not occur anymore. The taliban are no longer in rule, so how is this happening? Yes, the father in law was arrested but it goes against humanity to do such a thing. I feel that when the Taliban were in power that they imbeded too many and too harsh of traditions. The culture needs to finish modernizing so that this no longer happens, a modern society where humans are respected and treated right, I think it is sick that some one could even think to do something like this. Sometimes I believe the U.S. should stay and finish the Taliban off, however sometimes I feel as though this happens in rebellion. The real answer is a mystery, what are some good reasons to side one way or another?

Is it right for the Taliban to outline what the law is? There are many different interpretations of the Quran, but is anyone's interpretations above that of another? They all seem to have at least one common foundation for belief: the Quran. Why do innocent women need to be the ones who suffer the repercussions from the Taliban's radical behavior? There must be a common ground that all can settle on in order to find some peace so a country does not have to live in havoc all of the time. It's unfair to the innocent citizens who simply want the right to have an education, free religion, and certainly free speech. How is cutting off a woman's nose and ears justified by one radical group of people who feel their beliefs are superior to others?

This article is one that seems to be stirring up a lot of different views from everyone. The previous comments are either for the article or against it, and religion is a big part of each person’s decision. I find it very hard to believe that for running away, a young girl should have to get her nose and ears cut off. This shows the lack of freedom that women have and how men are the rulers in the home. It is very surprising that even today this punishment is acceptable in the Kabul. I think that Aisha is very brave for agreeing to be interviewed, and it is a good way to let the world know what goes on in other countries. Maybe because of her actions she will help change the laws in these cultures, and allow for more reasonable punishments.

The Taliban took a country full of innocent war torn people, looking for a steady form of government, and they ruined it. They ruined the economy and they enabled laws on women that are completely inhumane. Women can’t go outside the house without wearing a burqa and they can’t go out without a male family member. Women were killed and tortured for even speaking in public. They were to speak so that no stranger can hear them. And those who were just killed as a punishment were the lucky ones. Al the afghan people were looking for was a group to come in and stabilize their government so they can rebuild after the wars. But what they got instead was more fighting and even further economic set back. The Taliban have lead to the corruption that to this day still lives in the branches of government.

I cant say for sure what i think will happen within the next couple years. I just spent this last semester in college learning about every aspect of South asia from culture to history. We spent a great deal on afghanistan and the economy. And from what ive seen, the country has been in a deep hole over these past couple decades and from what ive seen, they are slowly but surely climbing out. All they need is to stablize the economy as well as the government. The first thing that needs to happen is of course geting rid og the corruption taking place in government. Once this is gone, then managing the money will be easier, leading to stabilization in the economy. This will turn out to be Afghanistans biggest ally in the long run.

Because they look like blue bedsheets blowing around on a clothes line when they dance around in thier chadris and burqas. Yakcr@p has his mother and grandmother pad locked in a closet because he is such a righteous man.

It's quite disgusting to know just how far the right-wing news media people are willing to go in order to make a case for this obnoxious war and against the Taliban! It proves just how much the right-wing thugs in Washington are in control of things! Now I guess that Phunnie boy's going to blog his stupid comment in here(usually under the name of Bledsoe) to make a joke of this too.

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Afghanistan Crossroads is where CNN's reporting converges -- bringing you a diversity of voices, stunning images and video, global perspectives and the latest news from on the ground in Afghanistan and around the world.